Why Does Acupuncture Work?

By Sid Lipsey

WebMD

For millions of people who live with pain, acupuncture is no longer an exotic curiosity. It’s now widely accepted among the medical community. And it’s pretty popular with patients as well. A recent survey found almost 3.5 million Americanssaid they’d had acupuncture in the previous year.

“In our clinic, we have been in existence for like 22 years,” says Ka-Kit Hui, MD, founder and director of the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine. “We have a 4- or 5-month wait for new patients.”

“Now, you’re like, ‘OK, well, if we’re not using opioids, what should we use?'” says Houman Danesh, MD, director of integrative pain management at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital. That dilemma has many people giving acupuncture a second look when it comes to treating pain.

“If a lot of people recognize the value of acupuncture,” Hui says, “it will be one of the components of addressing the prescription drug epidemic that we’re talking about in our country right now.”

“We have many patients come through with cancer,” Hui says. He adds his department treats people in all phases of cancer treatment: from those who are newly diagnosed, to those dealing with the discomfort of cancer treatment, to those in the later stages.

Alleviating anxiety and stress felt by those having fertility treatment

Promoting blood flow to the uterus

“Logic tells me more blood flow, more access to eggs,” says Magarelli, who founded Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Centers in Colorado and New Mexico. “More eggs, more embryos, more choice, better chance for a baby.”

Check your acupuncturist’s credentials. Most states require a license to practice it. You can get a referral from your doctor.

Don’t rely on a disease diagnosis you may get from an acupuncture practitioner unless they’re also a licensed medical doctor. The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture can provide a referral list of doctors who practice it.

If you get a diagnosis from a doctor, ask him if acupuncture might help.

But those who practice acupuncture say that’s no reason to stop doing it. Danesh suggests we remember how aspirin became accepted as more than an over-the-counter painkiller.

“It took years and years for us to figure out the exact molecular mechanisms, but we were [still] giving aspirin,” Danesh says. ‘You have a headache? Take aspirin.’ ‘You have back pain? Take aspirin.’ You have heart problems? …’ We accepted that aspirin was used.

“Acupuncture has good evidence [supporting it]. Just because we can’t necessarily explain it down to the molecular level doesn’t mean we need to abandon it.”

Supporters of cupping therapy believe the suction of the cups mobilizes blood flow to promote the healing of a broad range of medical ailments.

Cupping therapy dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures. One of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus, describes how the ancient Egyptians were using cupping therapy in 1,550 B.C.

In general, Western medical societies are skeptical of the health claims made by cupping therapy supporters. “Available scientific evidence does not support cupping as a cure for cancer or any other disease,” states the American Cancer Society. “Reports of successful treatment with cupping are mainly anecdotal rather than from research studies.”

But a 2012 study published in the journal PLoS ONE suggests that cupping therapy may have more than aplacebo effect. Australian and Chinese researchers reviewed 135 studies on cupping therapy published between 1992 and 2010. They concluded that cupping therapy may be effective when combined with other treatments like acupuncture or medications in treating various diseases and conditions, such as:

Types of Cupping Therapy

During both types of cupping, a flammable substance such as alcohol, herbs, or paper is placed in a cup and set on fire. As the fire goes out, the cup is placed upside down on the patient’s skin.

As the air inside the cup cools, it creates a vacuum. This causes the skin to rise and redden as bloodvessels expand. The cup is generally left in place for five to 10 minutes.

A more modern version of cupping uses a rubber pump to create the vacuum inside the cup. Sometimes practitioners use medical-grade silicone cups. These are pliable enough to be moved from place to place on the skin and produce a massage-like effect.

Types of Cupping Therapy continued…

During wet cupping, a mild suction is created using a cup that is left in place for about three minutes. The practitioner then removes the cup and uses a small scalpel to make superficial skin incisions. Then he or she performs a second suction to draw out a small quantity of blood.

After the procedure, the site may be covered with an antibiotic ointment and bandage to prevent infection. The skin’s appearance generally returns to normal within 10 days.

According to the American Cancer Society, one problem associated with cupping therapy is that patients may skip conventional treatment: “Relying on this treatment alone and delaying or avoiding conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health consequences.”

Also, a health care provider may mistakenly think marks left from cupping therapy are evidence of physical abuse.

Like many alternative treatments, cupping therapy has not been extensively studied. Researchers say that most cupping therapy studies have been small and poorly designed. More studies are needed to prove or disprove claims of health benefits.

5 Natural Antibiotic Solutions for Antibiotic-Resistant Infections

Our dependence on antibiotics has helped us to create some monsters—these monsters are antibiotic-resistant infections like superbugs being transmitted in hospitals, certain strains of E coli., and MRSA. The infections, if you went the traditional route, would be hard (if not impossible) to kill. But, there are foods that act as natural antibiotics that may prove effective where modern medicine is failing.

As a whole, doctors have been prescribing antibiotics at the slightest sign of illness, even for things they simply won’t help like the common cold. These prescriptions have been routinely handed out like candy despite the fact that illness, including common infections, can be successfully treated with a healthy immune system and a few natural helpers.

It might be time to try some natural alternatives – and stick with them.

5 Natural Antibiotics

You need foods, natural foods that will help foster a healthy immune system while annihilating bacterial invaders. Fortunately, there are several solutions that may just be in your kitchen right now.

1. Garlic – Garlic has known antibacterial, antifungal, and even antiviral properties. It has successfully be used to treat infectious diseases like pneumonia, MRSA, and even the black plague. It can also kill intestinal parasites—which can wreak havoc on your immune system.

2. Echinacea – People usually reach for the Echinacea tea to ward off a cold or the flu, but this powerful herb is a known infection-buster as well. The herb fights infections by strengthening the body’s own defense system, helping you to fight the bacteria rather than just coming in and killing everything in sight (like Big Pharma’s antibiotics).

3. Honey – Also among the many amazing natural antibiotics, honey is a well known food harnessing antibacterial properties (along with a bunch of other beneficial properties). One study published in the journal Microbiology found that honey – particularly that derived from bees foraging on manuka flowers – halted one type of streptococcus pyogenes from inhibiting the healing of wounds. Other research shows that honey could be a potent answer to drug resistant bacteria like MRSA. Honey is a great natural antibiotic.

4. Turmeric – The bright yellow spice that gives curries their rich color and smoky flavor, turmeric is far more than a culinary tool—it has amazing healing properties. MRSA typically forms in wounds or boils. Turmeric acts as anantibacterial agent and can be taken internally or applied directly to the skin. Try making turmeric into a paste by adding water or even manduka honey and applying to the infection.

5. Oregano –Oregano, and specifically oil of oregano, has potent antibacterial and infection-fighting properties. One study in particular found these properties to be as effective as antibiotics and offering great promise particularly in the fight against antibiotic-resistant infection. You can find this oil in health food stores or you can make your own.

The body is a miraculous machine and when properly maintained, it will fight off infections without assistance. Even when an extra boost is needed, we needn’t run to the doctor for a prescription. Instead, rely on natural antibiotics and healers to help maintain optimal health.

To honor and show our support for our local West Suburban Police Departments, during Police Memorial Week, Red Aspen Acupuncture is holding a Police Officer Appreciation Day on Wednesday May 18, 2016 at our offices located on 512 W. Burlington Ave. Suite 104 Lagrange, Il.
Between the hours of 7am and 7pm any officer – on duty or off, will receive a complimentary Acupuncture treatment and consult. Appointments are not necessary but would be appreciated. Session will take about 45 minutes with some basic health information gathered and a 15-20 minute treatment. So if you just need to de-stress, or you have a muscle aliment that could use some attention stop in.
Serving those who serve us.

There are numerous emotional and physical disorders that have been linked to stress including depression, anxiety, heart attacks, stroke, hypertension, immune system disturbances that increase susceptibility to infections, a host of viral linked disorders ranging from the common cold and herpes to AIDS and certain cancers, as well as autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. In addition stress can have direct effects on the skin (rashes, hives, atopic dermatitis, the gastrointestinal system (GERD, peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis) and can contribute to insomnia and degenerative neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease. In fact, it’s hard to think of any disease in which stress cannot play an aggravating role or any part of the body that is not affected (see stress effects on the body stress diagram) or. This list will undoubtedly grow as the extensive ramifications of stress are increasingly being appreciated.

This American Heart Month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Million Hearts®–a national effort to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes in the United States by 2017–are encouraging Americans to know their blood pressure, and if it’s high, to make control their goal.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure[469 KB] is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. In fact, more than 67 million Americans have high blood pressure.1 People with high blood pressure are 4 times more likely to die from a stroke and 3 times more likely to die from heart disease, compared to those with normal blood pressure.2

High blood pressure often shows no signs or symptoms, which is why having your blood pressure checked regularly is important. It’s easy to get your blood pressure checked. You can get screened at your doctor’s office and drugstores or even check it yourself at home, using a home blood pressure monitor.

Do you know the Top Ten Sports Injuries? Check here daily for the count down !!! Number 10

10 Shin Splints
Shin splints are pains in the muscles near the shin bones. They can be caused by running or jumping on hard surfaces or simply overuse. They occur most often in people unaccustomed to training, although they can also plague experienced athletes who switch to lighter shoes, harder surfaces or more concentrated speed work.

The pain occurs on the inner side of the middle third of the shin bone. The muscle responsible for raising the arch of the foot attaches to the shin bone at that spot. When the arch collapses with each foot strike, it pulls on the tendon that comes from this muscle. With repeated stress, the arch begins to pull some of its muscle fibers loose from the shin bone. This causes small areas of bleeding around the lining of the bone, and pain.

If the irritated area is about the size of a 50-cent piece or smaller, or shin pain suddenly increases, you may have a stress fracture. The twisting of the tibia can cause the bone to crack. A stress fracture may not show up on an x-ray, and therefore a bone scan is indicated.

Shin Splints Treatment
The key element of treatment is an arch support to prop up the foot and prevent excessive pronation and pull on the tendon. Many people do well with a simple commercial arch support. This usually solves the problem almost immediately. Others who have a more serious problem may need an orthotic device to control the pronation.

To help prevent shin splints, start exercising slowly to warm up the leg muscles, wear athletic shoes with good support and run on a softer surface, for example, changing from asphalt to grass every few runs.

Acupuncture treatment accompanied electrical stimulation about 30 min will get the best results.
Know someone you is struggling with Shin Splints? Have them give us a call or check out our website for more information on how Acupuncture can help